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Thursday, 23 November 2017

I'm a massive festive fiend and love a good Christmassy read, so I've been looking forward to compiling my festive TBR. I've picked four books that I'll hopefully get to read in the run up to Christmas (there are NEVER enough hours in December, but I'll do my best).

The snow is falling, the hot chocolate’s warming, and hearts are melting . . .

Emma is the proud owner of The Chocolate Shop by the Sea, nestled in the heart of the cosy seaside village that’s become her home. With Christmas right around the corner, she and her assistant Holly are busy cooking up the locals’ festive favourites.

From cinnamon hot chocolates to reindeer lollipops, Christmas wouldn’t taste the same without a little cocoa magic. And for Emma it’s the perfect distraction from her romantic pains of the past. So when the shop’s miserly landlord threatens to hike up the rent, Emma’s Christmas and New Year suddenly look a lot less cheerful.

With the whole village rallying behind her – and loyal spaniel Alfie by her side – Emma’s determined to hold onto her chocolate-box dream.

The chocolate calendar countdown is on. Can Emma rescue her business and her broken heart?

Flora Phillips has an excuse for every disaster in her life; she was abandoned as a new-born on a doorstep one cold autumn night, wrapped in nothing but a towel. Her philosophy is simple: if your mother doesn't want you – who will?

Now a thirty-year-old, without a boyfriend, a career or home she figures she might as well tackle the biggest question of them all – who is she? So, whilst everyone else enjoys their Christmas Eve traditions, Flora escapes the masses and drives to the village of Pooley to seek a specific doorstep. Her doorstep.

But in Pooley she finds more than her life story. She finds friends, laughter, and perhaps even a love to last a lifetime. Because once you know where you come from, it's so much easier to know where you're going.

A story of redemption and love, romance and Christmas dreams-come-true, the perfect novel to snuggle up with this festive season.

Determined to conquer a lifetime of shyness, Harriet Knight challenges herself to do one thing a day in December that scares her, including celebrating Christmas without her family. But when dog-walker Harriet meets her newest client, exuberant spaniel Madi, she adds an extra challenge to her list – dealing with Madi's temporary dog-sitter, gruff doctor Ethan Black, and their very unexpected chemistry.

Ethan thought he was used to chaos, until he met Madi – how can one tiny dog cause such mayhem? To Ethan, the solution is simple – he will pay Harriet to share his New York apartment and provide 24-hour care. But there's nothing simple about how Harriet makes him feel.

Ethan's kisses make Harriet shine brighter than the stars over moonlit Manhattan. But when his dog-sitting duties are over, and Harriet returns to her own home, will she dare to take the biggest challenge of all – letting Ethan know he has her heart for life, not just for Christmas?

A gorgeous country house hotel, a liberal dusting of snow, a cosy weekend away…what more could Lizzie ask for at Christmas?

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change and she will leap into the new year a new woman. And yet here she is again, at the beginning of December and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband Henry is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbour Marcus and she knows she shouldn’t be …

So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance. Will this Christmas escape give Lizzie some much needed perspective and allow her to mend her marriage? Or will Marcus prove to be too much of a distraction?

What's on your festive TBR pile?

* * * * *In my next newsletter, I'll be recommending one of my favourite festive reads. Plus, one of my subscribers will win a signed copy of The Little Bed & Breakfast by the Sea - plus other goodies - for themselves AND a friend!Subscribe here

Thursday, 16 November 2017

I love curling up with a festive read during the run up to Christmas. Log fires, snow, mince pies, hot chocolates, a bit of romance... bring it on!

I've started a little festive reads pile that I'll soon be diving into, but I thought I'd flag up a couple of my own Christmassy reads in case you're looking for something festive and fun.

Curl up with a mug of hot chocolate and a warm mince pie for the perfect festive read this holiday season!

‘I wish I could live your life. I’d happily swap lives with you.’

’Tis the season to be jolly but for Calvin and Judy the usual festive bickering has already begun! Judy’s convinced that her husband has it easy – no glittery wrapping paper, no playground gossip and absolutely no Christmas baking.

Calvin wishes he could trade in his obnoxious boss and dull nine-to-five job to spend more time kicking back with his kids – how hard can Judy’s life really be?

But after a magical mince pie mix-up, one thing’s for certain – by Christmas Day, life for Judy and Calvin will never be the same again. Perhaps the grass isn’t always greener after all…

The Mince Pie Mix-Up is a fun, festive Freaky Friday-style rom com and is just 99p at the moment (at the time of posting. Please check before purchasing).

A festive romantic comedy short story.

Ruth usually spends Christmas curled up on her parents’ sofa, watching feel-good movies whilst being fed festive food and drink until she can no longer move. But Ruth’s perfect Christmas is shattered when her mum receives a DIY-induced injury and Ruth is forced to take over the preparations.

A Beginner's Guide To Christmas is a quick read, so perfect if you're short on time (and aren't we all at this time of year?), plus it's FREE (happy Christmas indeed!)

If you read The Mince Pie Mix-Up or A Beginner's Guide To Christmas (or both!) I hope you enjoy it and they make you giggle. I'd love to know what you think, so do pop a review on Amazon as every one helps :)

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

One of the things I look forward to most during the run up to Christmas is the reindeer parade, which is held in the town centre every year. It's fantastic fun and so lovely to see so many families gathered together.

This year's theme was 'A Christmas Day Feast' and there was also lots of different characters and props, bands playing festive music and Santa and his reindeer!

Tuesday, 14 November 2017

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted on the blog as I've been busy working on Book 8, but the first round of edits are now done (phew!) so I thought I'd post a quick catch up!

I've been working on the edits for Book 8 for the past month - and it was a pretty hefty edit where I had to rewrite a lot of the scenes/chapters! I sent the book back to my editor early last week and I've had a few days away from writing since, but I'm back to plotting Book 9 now!

I'll hopefully have some news to share about Book 8 soon...

I'm between books at the moment; I've just finished The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (yes, I am lagging behind! I enjoyed it though) and I know my next read will be a festive one but I haven't picked which one yet!